District Identifies Long-range Water Plan

After a two-year study conducted by MWH Global (MWH) and Hawksley Consulting, Castle Pines North Metropolitan District has decided on a long-range water plan that ensures the future of enduring water supplies to the District. The water plan was designed for strategic utilization of Lower South Platte water rights, Plum Creek and Hock Hocking water rights, as well as storage in Chatfield Reservoir.

“The business of providing water to our residents in Castle Pines has become increasingly challenging. It’s not enough to own multiple water assets. We have to position ourselves in a way that gives us durable, sustainable and renewable water supplies to replace those from non-renewable groundwater sources,” said District Manager Jim Nikkel.

The District enlisted the help of Colorado-based engineering, consulting and construction firm MWH and its subsidiary, Hawksley Consulting for a study focusing on solutions that maximized the value and use of the District’s water assets. In addition, the firm determined a plan that reduces reliance on groundwater from wells and builds infrastructure to support a renewable water supply from snow and rainfall.

“The plan we received from Hawksley Consulting will allow us to maximize our existing investments, replace up to 97 percent of our groundwater supplies, and cost us about half as much as we had originally estimated,” Nikkel said. “In the first phase of the plan, we’ll have a renewable water supply of 900 acre-feet (AF) per year, or 50 percent renewable. This puts our community in a great position for our future water needs.”

Board President Keith Dodd added, “Not just the current board, but previous boards have been diligent in working toward reducing our reliance on groundwater. Those sources aren’t always going to be enough for our community. We have a responsibility to protect what’s ours.”

Within the next three to five years, the initial phase of the District’s plan involves storage of renewable water in Chatfield Reservoir, through the Chatfield Reallocation Project. Nikkel says from that point, it will be a continual effort to bring assets on line.

“Our customers trust us to put the investment we’ve made to work. We’re doing that, by implementing the findings from Hawksley Consulting, developing the infrastructure, and continuing to assess our community’s long-range water needs,” Nikkel said.